Totem pole taken down on riverbank

Stonechild was the lead assistant to carver James Sutherland during the pole’s creation at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in 1975. It was presented to the city of Prince Albert as a gift of thanks for the recreation programming volunteers from P.A. provided the inmates in the 1970s.

The artwork tells the story of the great Thunderbird who taught the beaver how to build a dam, and in return, asked the beaver to pass the knowledge on to someone in need in the future. Later, when the beaver came across a lonely man, he taught him how to construct a home using logs, mud and grass, and this, says the story, was the beginning of the world.

“For nearly 45 years this gift to the citizens of Prince Albert has stood proudly on the riverbank reminding each of us of the importance of paying it forward,” Fred Payton of the P.A. Historical Society told the crowd gathered at the ceremony following the pole’s removal.

He explained that in 1975, Stonechild and Sutherland gave the city a handwritten version of the Eaglechild story at the ceremony where they presented the pole. On Thursday, he handed that framed original story to Stonechild’s sister Darlene.

“You’re taking it home to Dale’s home community and we give you this story to take with you,” he told her.

Fred Payton of the Historical Society hands Darlene Stonechild the handwritten Eaglechild story that her brother and James Sutherland presented to the city in 1975 (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

Stonechild and her niece Alicia Keewatan were the last speakers on Monday morning. Stonechild opened by thanking the Creator, the city of Prince Albert and everyone involved in the day.

She said she had called Dale, who is incarcerated, earlier that morning from the riverbank. He told her that while the totem pole belongs to First Nations from northern B.C. it is also a symbol for Indigenous peoples across Canada.

“We don’t have no flag, we don’t have no Canadian flag, we don’t have no province flag, so that totem pole is our flag. That’s what my brother told me,” she said. “That’s our flag, so we honour that.”

Speaking after the ceremony, Stonechild told paNOW that the day had been emotional, adding it was difficult to watch the pole come down.

“A wave went through me, kind of like a death, but with the Creator’s help it will be OK,” she said.

Stonechild plans to get the totem pole repainted and put back together. She will erect it in her yard with a pipe ceremony and a feast to honour the tree and all those involved in the pole’s creation.

Darlene Stonechild holds two photos of her brother Dale. Left, graduating with a bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of B.C. Right, in an outfit for traditional dance that he painted and beaded. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

Speaking to the crowd on Monday, she talked about her brother’s career as an artist. He has a bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of B.C. and plans to complete his masters in the future. She directed her final comments to students in the crowd.

“You’re never too old to pick up and learn, and do something in life to better yourself, your family and everything,” she said.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom

The totem pole lies on the ground following its removal (submitted/City of P.A.)

by Alison Sandstrom

Totem pole taken down on riverbank

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